House of Social

House of Social is one of Manchester’s most distinctive new mixed‑use destinations, combining next‑generation student living with a design‑led food hall that has quickly become a cultural anchor for the First Street district.

Central to its striking architectural identity is the façade, delivered by Axis, whose precision‑engineered envelope solution underpins both the building’s visual impact and long‑term performance.

Spanning two vibrant public levels beneath thirteen floors of contemporary student accommodation, the ambition of the building from the outset was to create a building that would serve both its residents and the wider city.

The development’s dual identity – ‘House’ for residents and ‘Social’ for the public realm – has enabled the building to become a social hub that strengthens the neighbourhood and supports Manchester’s vision for connected, culturally rich urban growth.

The project has been designed by Tim Groom Architects for client Vita Group and delivered by developer Renaker. It demanded a façade solution capable of supporting the building’s expressive design language whilst meeting stringent requirements for resilience, sustainability and aesthetic clarity.

Axis responded by installing a cutting‑edge anodised aluminium rainscreen system, complemented by meticulously crafted flashings and detailing. Manufactured entirely in‑house by Axis and installed by the company’s site team, the façade solution provides exceptional weather resistance and material longevity while giving the building its sleek, contemporary appearance.